2005-03-31
It’s that voice.You either like Colin Meloy’s reedy vocals, or you don’t. And depending on your answer, you either like or don’t like The Decemberists, since the entire band is built around him. There’s some nice songwriting and Meloy knows the tricks of the trade: pop hooks and minor-major key wind-up.
A college radio staple, Picaresque may be one of the band’s most commercial-sounding releases in recent memory. You’re entering a world of sea-farers, vagabonds, hucksters, soldiers and angels. No samples here, folks, they’re the real deal from Hammond organ, accordion, earnest strumming, and ok, throw in a tam-tam.
Stella
BRANDI CARLISLE
The Story
Joseph Arthur & the Lonely Astronauts
Let’s Just Be
BOB MOULD
District Line
Wonderbelly
The Away Team Is Dead
MILTON AND THE DEVIL'S PARTY
How Wicked We've Become
Jerry Lee Lewis
Last Man Standing
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